Aviation Research & Innovation Strategy (ARIS) unveiled at Paris Air Show
At the Paris Air Show on 16 June 2025, Europe’s aviation sector issued a resounding call for bold investment in research and innovation, warning that the continent’s competitiveness and sovereignty are at stake. The newly unveiled Aviation Research & Innovation Strategy (ARIS) outlines an ambitious plan requiring €66 billion between 2028 and 2034 to ensure Europe retains its leadership in aviation technology and sustainability.
Developed collaboratively by industry leaders, research institutions, and academia – and endorsed by the Clean Aviation and SESAR Joint Undertakings – ARIS was formally handed to European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas in Paris. The strategy aims to influence the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework, currently under discussion.
European aviation plays a crucial role for the economy, supporting 15 million jobs and generating €1.1 trillion in economic activity. With a 58% share of global new civil aircraft production and 70% of worldwide airspace managed by European ATM technologies, the region’s leadership is substantial – but increasingly fragile amidst geopolitical and technological shifts.
To maintain this edge, ARIS identifies three areas for investment:
- Next-generation aircraft technologies;
- Efficient air traffic management;
- Cutting-edge enablers such as advanced manufacturing and maintenance, digitalisation including automation, and workforce upskilling.
A key objective of the strategy is to bridge the so-called “valley of death” that often prevents breakthrough innovations from reaching the market. ARIS calls for a third of the proposed funding – €22.5 billion – to come from the EU, with the rest contributed by Member States and industry partners.
Commissioner Tzitzikostas welcomed the strategy as an important contribution to the ongoing discussions on the next Multiannual Financial Framework, describing aviation as a cornerstone of Europe’s competitiveness and resilience.
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